Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

FABIAN

(b Fabiano Forte, 6 Feb. '43, Philadelphia PA) Teen idol. Attended South Philly High as did most of city's teen stars; introduced by Frankie Avalon to Chancellor label's Bob Marcucci, who agreed that he looked like a cross between Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson; singing ability was secondary. Flop singles with Chancellor act the Four Dates; then miming to 'I'm A Man' at a Dick Clark record hop caused hormonal reaction in young females. He profited from Presley's absence in US Army; 'I'm A Man' (Presley imitation from Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman) made no. 39, first of seven top 40 hits '59--60. Appeared on Clark's American Bandstand, toured with Caravan of Stars; 'Turn Me Loose', 'Tiger', 'Hound Dog Man' all top ten, latter title from first feature film. He admitted leaning on studio technology and was a soft target for US House of Representatives investigating hyping of 'talentless' stars into charts through payola. Film career incl. High Time with Bing Crosby, North To Alaska with John Wayne, but fizzled; he appeared in TV sit-coms, posed nude in beefcake mag '70s, took part in West Coast community project under California governor Jerry Brown. Sued over portrait in film The Idolmaker '80 based on Marcucci's career, out-of-court settlement '86.